Fire-extinguishing apparatus.



'Nd. 733,421. PATENTED JULY 14,1903

' J. W. RAPP.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1901.

N0 MODEL.

o L) g 1 Q WITNESSES: I INVENTOR Swag r h S BY HIS ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Tatented July 14, 190%. PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN w. RAPP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,421, dated July 14, 1903. Applicationfiled November 18,1901. Serial No. 82,690. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern: I

Beit known that I, JOHN W. RAPP, acitizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Extinguishing Apparatoe, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire-extinguishing apparatus, and particularly to receptacles, containing a liquid or other means for extinguishing fires, which are located abouta room or other place for emergency use in case of fire. The object of my invention is to prevent these receptacles from becoming empty or otherwise relieved of their contents Without some notice being given of the fact.

I will describe an apparatus embodying my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View, partlyin section, of a fire-extinguish ing apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of a similar apparatus embodying my invention with some modifications.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in both of the figures.

A represents a receptacle (here shown as being in the form of a bucket) which is adapted to contain a medium or means which when applied to a fire will extinguish it. This medium may be water. The receptacle is adapted to be supported in such position as to permit of its having movement. It is here shown as being suspended by a bail a from a cord a, passing over pulleys b I), mounted in a bracket B and having at its other end a counterbalance in the form of a weight A. The counterbalance is such that it will maintain or hold the receptacle A and its contents in a certain position; but when the receptacle and its contents become lighter for any reason-as, for example, by evaporation of the liquid-the counterbalance will move the receptacle to operate a signal.

represents a signal, which in one form of my invention is an electrically-operated bell. The circuit of the bell is normally open and is adapted to be closed by means carried by the receptacle or cord or operated through the movement of the receptacle. As here shown, one terminal of the bell-circuit is connected with. a spring-finger c and the other with a second spring-finger c. The fingers c c are here shown as being carried by a bracket 0 with insulation between them. The two fingers are brought into engagement one with the other by means of a plate or arm 0 which is adjustably secured through a setscrew 0 to the cord a. When the two fingers are in engagement, the circuit Will be closed and the signal sounded. This draws attention to the fact that something is wrong with the receptacle or its contents and needs attention. y

In Fig. 2 instead of a weight A a spring A may be substituted, and instead of an electric bell a spring or other mechanical hell 0, which will give a continuous signal, may be employed. This bell maybe operated from the adjustable plate 0 engaging a lever c of the bell mechanism. The bell c is here shown as being fixed on an arm 0, secured to the bracket B. Instead of a continuous signal an intermittent signal may be used.

In practice the receptacle A is preferably held or suspended in an elevated position in order that it will be out of the way. For convenience in taking down the receptacle it may be provided with a handle A on its bottom.

The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood. If the receptacle is to be used in an emergency, it is drawn down by the handle A and disengaged from the cord at. In case it should not be used for some time and the contents of the receptacle should evaporate or otherwise escape from the receptacle to decrease its weight the counterbalance will raise the receptacle and operate the signal. It will be the duty of an attendant to examine the receptacle and see that everything is in order, so that the receptacle and its contents will always be ready in an emergency. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The combination of a stationary bracket, a receptacle for containing means for extinguishing fires, a cord for suspending said receptacle from the bracket so as to be freely accessible from below, said cord allowing a wide range of Vertical movement for the receptacle, means connected to said cord and acting in opposition to the weight of the receptacle and its contents and adapted to permit the receptacle to be pulled down and also adapted to raise the bucket upon a decrease in weight of the fire-extinguishing means contained in the receptacle, and a signal connected with the bracket and having a part in the path of the receptacle and adapted to be operated when the receptacle is raised by the counterbalance. ll

2. The combination of astationary bracket, a receptacle for containing means for extinguishing fires, a cord for suspending said receptacle from the bracket so 'as te be freely accessible from below, said cord allowing a wide range of vertical movement for the receptacle, a counterbalance for said receptacle connected with the cord and adapted to permit the receptacle being pulled down and to raisethe bucket upon a decrease in weight of the fire-extinguishing means contained in the receptacle, and a signal connected with the bracket and having a part in the path of the receptacle and adapted to be operated when the receptacle is raised by the counterbalance.

3. The combination in an apparatus for extinguishing fires, of a stationary bracket provided with pulleys, a cord passing over said pulleys and having a counterbalance at its inner end, a receptacle containing means for extinguishing fires, detachably connected to the other end of said cord, and adapted to be drawn down for inspection or refilling, a fixed plate'on the cord between the outer pulley and the receptacle, the space between the outer pulley and the bracket being of less width than the size of the said plate, and a signal connected to the bracket and having a part in the path of the plate and adapted to be put in operation by said plate on its upi ward movement, substantially for the pur poses set forth. r

4. The combination in an apparatus for extinguishing fires, of a bracket provided with pul leys, a' cord passing; over said pulleys, means attached to one end of said cord tending to pull it over the pulleys, a receptacle containing means for extinguishing fires and detachably connected to the other end of the said cord, an adjustable plate carried by said cord between the outer pulley and the receptacle, the space between the said outer pulley and the bracket being of less width than the size of the said plate, and a signal having a part arranged in the path of the plate and adapted to beput in operation thereby, substantially for the purposes set forth.

5, The combination in an apparatus for extinguishing fires, of a bracket provided with pulleys, a cord passing over said pulleys, means attached to one end of said cord tending to pull it over the pulleys, a receptacle containing means for extinguishing fires and detachably connected to the other end of said cord, a bell fixed on said bracket and provided with an actuating part, and a fixed plate on the cord located between the recep-, tacle and the outer pulley for engaging said actuating part, substantially for the purposes set'forth. W

In testimony whereotd have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. RAPP.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. GRUsE, e KATHERINE G. Lfi'ARD. 

